Page:Studies in Lowland Scots - Colville - 1909.djvu/152

128 that!" was enough to secure first choice of a good thing. All enjoyed giving each other "fichils" (Gael. dialect, fachail, strife, and quite local), or challenges to difficult feats—the "brags" of Edinburgh and the "coosie" of Arbroath. Hiding in the crap-wa' or coom-ceiled recess of the hay-loft, where floor and joists meet, was much enjoyed. To be called "bairnlie," "fugie," "coordie" (the "coordie, coordie custard!" of Edinburgh), or to be sent home with a torn "daidlie" (pinafore) was justly shunned. "A carrier of clypes," dreaded in the West, was never heard, though "clippy" for pert was quite common. To settle sides in a game the lot was cast by the inevitable decision,

Glorious were the June evenings, when the bairns were as happy on the green as the gowans that nestled in a sleep which their tread did not disturb! As the gloamin' from the East chased the azure day to far Western seas, the golden moths flitted over the breer-busses, the corncraik scraiched among the skellocks (wild mustard) in the haugh-land, while the bat circled overhead, easily evading the bonnets tossed up to catch it with the seductive cry, "Bat, bat, come intill my hairy hat!" But all this paled before the delights of "hairst." Eager was the look-out for the first stook as authority for demanding the vacations (Fr. vacance). Rapidly gleamed the hyucks (sickles) in sturdy hands when some forward shearer began "kempin" (Ger. "kämpfen," to contend),—

The grieve (A.S. "gerefa," reeve, officer) looked on with mingled feelings, divided between a desire for snod stubble and a